Education and training as sustainable springboard for Dong Nai’s rapid, breakthrough development

A delegation from the Ministry of Education and Training (MoET), led by Hoang Minh Son, Member of the Party Central Committee (PCC) and Minister of Education and Training, met with the Dong Nai City Party Committee (CPC) and People’s Committee on October 14.

Hoang Minh Son, Member of the PCC and Minister of Education and Training, speaks at the meeting. Photo: Cong Nghia

The delegation met with Vu Hong Van, Member of the PCC, Secretary of the CPC; Nguyen Van Ut, Deputy Secretary of the CPC and Chairman of the City People’s Committee; and Le Truong Son, Member of the CPC’s Standing Committee and Vice Chairman of the City People’s Committee. Leaders of the Department of Education and Training (DoET), representatives of other departments and agencies, and local educational institutions also attended.

Economic growth must go hand in hand with education development

Speaking at the meeting, Secretary Vu Hong Van stressed that Dong Nai strongly supported the MoET’s views and direction on education reform, as set out at the opening ceremony of the 2026–2027 school year. The city is vigorously implementing measures to ensure an adequate supply of schools, classrooms and teachers, promote substantive education, ensure school safety and develop a highly skilled workforce, particularly in strategic technology fields. These efforts aim to bring tangible improvements in teaching, learning and workforce training in the coming years.

Vu Hong Van, Member of the PCC, Secretary of the CPC, speaks at the meeting. Photo: Cong Nghia

The CPC Secretary also backed efforts to improve teachers’ incomes and living standards while strengthening their professional skills, particularly digital literacy and the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in teaching. He stressed that technology should support, not replace, teachers. He said investment in education today would bring lasting benefits to the country. At the start of the new school year, the CPC’s Standing Board held first working session with the education sector. The frank and open discussions gave city leaders a clearer understanding of the challenges facing schools and teachers, enabling them to offer timely support and encouragement.

According to Secretary Vu Hong Van, Dong Nai boasts the country’s fourth-largest economy. The city aims to collect more than VND150 trillion in budget revenue in 2026 and maintain double-digit economic growth over the next five years.

Alongside economic growth, Dong Nai regards education and training as a strategic priority with long-term benefits. Efforts to attract investment must be matched by investment in social infrastructure, as economic development requires schools. Van said the city would not allow schools to operate three shifts a day or face shortages of classrooms and teachers. It is allocating resources under a clear roadmap to tackle these problems at their source.

Improving teaching and learning quality

Nguyen Van Ut, Deputy Secretary of the CPC and Chairman of the City People’s Committee, speaks at the meeting. Photo: Cong Nghia

Dang Anh Tuan, Director of the DoET, said the sector was stepping up reforms as the 2026–2027 school year began. Dong Nai has completed its plan to reorganize and streamline the network of educational institutions ahead of schedule, reducing the number of public institutions by more than 40%. The city has also accelerated digital transformation, digitising all diploma and qualification records. AI education has been introduced across Grades 1–12, while efforts to establish English as a second language in schools are being intensified. The city is upgrading school facilities, particularly in border communes, while promoting digital-school and happy-school models and developing a model of socialist education.

Dang Anh Tuan, Director of the DoET, presents a report to the minister and delegation. Photo: Cong Nghia

However, the city still faces difficulties in implementing education and training policies. These include applying staffing norms for teachers who teach two sessions a day, regulations governing the number of deputy management posts following administrative mergers, and a lack of adequate incentives for staff responsible for boarding students in border areas. To address these challenges, the city is prioritising land allocation for new schools in rapidly growing areas. It is also working to improve educational quality, expand STEM education and strengthen school safety.

The city is restructuring its vocational and higher education network and directing resources towards making Dong Nai University one of the leading universities in southeastern Viet Nam. In the longer term, it aims to develop an integrated training and research ecosystem linked closely to Long Thanh International Airport, industrial parks and logistics centres.

Dr. Nguyen Van Toan, Acting Vice Rector of Dong Nai University, presents the university’s report. Photo: Cong Nghia

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Lam Thanh Hien, Rector of Lac Hong University, calls for greater investment support for science and technology at private educational institutions to strengthen training. Photo: Cong Nghia

Nguyen Khanh Cuong, Rector of Lilama 2 International Technology College, speaks at the meeting. Photo: Cong Nghia

Supporting education reform efforts

Thai Van Tai, Director of the Department of General Education under the MoET, discusses issues raised by Dong Nai. Photo: Cong Nghia

After hearing proposals from Dong Nai’s education sector, including representatives of public and private institutions, Minister Hoang Minh Son outlined his recommendations for the city’s long-term education strategy.

The minister said the CPC and the City People’s Committee had shown a strong commitment to education. As the city pursues double-digit economic growth, he urged it to develop a comprehensive education strategy covering all levels, from preschool to postgraduate education. Such a strategy would help identify investment priorities, allocate resources efficiently and improve the effectiveness of education policies.

To put Politburo Resolution No. 71-NQ/TW, dated August 22, 2025, on breakthroughs in education and training into practice, the minister identified three priorities: expanding access to education, improving quality and ensuring equity. He called for greater efforts to narrow the education gap between border communes and urban centres. Public schools in urban areas, he added, must continue to support disadvantaged students as the private education sector expands.

Hoang Minh Son, Member of the PCC and Minister of Education and Training, speaks at the meeting. Photo: Cong Nghia

On school safety, the minister suggested that Dong Nai consider using electric buses to transport students. He also called for school meal services to be managed more professionally, with local authorities selecting specialized providers. General education schools, except preschools and boarding schools, are not required to prepare meals themselves. This would allow school leaders to focus more closely on teaching and learning.

On workforce planning by sector, the minister warned that overly detailed forecasts of demand for individual occupations could result in rigid planning. He recommended instead that training be guided by labour-market signals. Colleges and universities should track graduates’ employment outcomes and adjust their programmes to meet changing needs. Transferring college management to local authorities is intended to strengthen links between education providers, local businesses and the labour market.

Minister Hoang Minh Son presents a painting of the Temple of Literature and Imperial Academy to the Dong Nai CPC. Photo: Cong Nghia

The minister also urged Dong Nai to give greater priority to STEM education and workforce development. With the national target set at 35% for the STEM workforce, he said the city should aim higher. Dong Nai should also increase the share of workers with college and university qualifications and expand retraining programmes to keep pace with technological change. The minister voiced strong support for Dong Nai’s efforts to mobilise resources and establish itself as a major higher education and innovation hub in Southeastern Viet Nam and nationwide.

Nguyen Van Ut, Deputy Secretary of the Dong Nai CPC and Chairman of the City People’s Committee, presents a Bien Hoa ceramic vase to Minister of Education and Training Hoang Minh Son. Photo: Cong Nghia

By C Nghia – Translated by M.Nguyet, Thu Ha